GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Landon Ferraro waited three-plus professional seasons to play in the NHL, so the 22-year-old soaked in as much as possible from a familiar group of teammates during his brief stint with the Detroit Red Wings.

Ferraro returned to practice with the Grand Rapids Griffins on Tuesday following a week and four games with the parent club. He registered two shots and picked up a two-minute penalty. His most ice time was 10:41 against Pittsburgh in his second game.

“It was a ton of fun, and it was also a big learning experience being out there the first time,” said Ferraro, whose father, former standout Ray Ferraro, was on hand to see his debut against Toronto at Joe Louis Arena on March 18.

“I’ve played exhibition games, but at this point of the season (with the Red Wings in the playoff hunt), it was completely different.”

Ferraro became the seventh player on the Griffins to make his NHL debut with the Red Wings this season. Teammate Mitch Callahan, who traded spots in Detroit with Ferraro, became the eighth on Tuesday.

It was comfortable in the locker room with 10 former teammates from the Griffins’ Calder Cup championship team of a season ago, he said.

“You envision going up and not get in anyone’s way and taking it all in,” Ferraro said. “I definitely took it all in, but it was so much easier when there are so many close friends already up there.

“I mean, I got to make fun of Glennie (Luke Glendening) about 30 seconds in, and I hadn’t gotten a chance to do that in a while. That just gives you an idea of what it was like.There’s a nice mix of veterans and younger players.”

He also learned a lot, including from third-line center Drew Miller.

“I spent as much time as I could talking to him because that’s the kind of player I have to be to be up there,” he said. “Every question I had he took the time to answer. That’s what makes this a good organization. Good people.”

Ferraro will be a restricted free agent after the season and out of minor-league options. He would have to clear waivers before sent down next season.

Ferraro, Detroit’s first pick in the 2009 draft, has 28 points (13-15-28) and 44 penalty minutes in 60 games with the Griffins. Last season, he led the Griffins with 24 goals and was third on the team with 47 points.

He is expected to return and center a top two line when the Griffins play Friday at Rockford, followed on Saturday by a home game against the IceHogs – the team’s first home game since March 8.